By road, Chota and Jaén are about 98 miles (158 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 11 min of driving.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance by road | 98 mi (158 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3NC → PE-3N → PE-04C → PE-5N |
| Regions on the route | Cajamarca, Amazonas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Chota to Jaén drive plays out
PE-3N (37 mi) and PE-3NC (25 mi) carry about 63% of the 98 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Cajamarca, Amazonas. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chota and Jaén
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3NC | 4–29 | 25 | Cajamarca |
| PE-3N | 29–66 | 37 | Cajamarca |
| PE-04C | 66–87 | 21 | Cajamarca, Amazonas |
| PE-5N | 87–98 | 11 | Amazonas, Cajamarca |
- Mile 86 of this route: Cajamarca → Amazonas (region line)
- Mile 90 of this route: Amazonas → Cajamarca (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Chota and Jaén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Condorcaga (mile 8)
- Nature and outdoors: Cutervo National Park (mile 52)
- Museums and history: Condorcaga (mile 8)
Condorcaga
Condorcaga is an archaeological zone in the Lajas District of Chota Province, in Peru's Cajamarca region.
Cutervo National Park
Established in 1961, Cutervo National Park protects a stretch of the northern Peruvian Andes in the Cajamarca region.
Área de conservación regional Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo
The Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo regional conservation area is a protected area in Peru's Cajamarca department.
Arriving in Jaén
Montegrande
In Jaén District, Cajamarca, Montegrande is an archaeological site with a spiral temple or enclosure built around 3000 BC.
More drives to Jaén
From Chota to other places in Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chota to Jaén?
About 3 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 98 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chota to Jaén?
About 98 miles (158 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Chota to Jaén?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chota to Jaén?
In order: PE-3NC, PE-3N, PE-04C and PE-5N. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chota to Jaén?
Closest to the road: Condorcaga (archaeological site, mile 8, 0.2 mi from the route); Cutervo National Park (national park of Peru, mile 52, 5 mi from the route); Área de conservación regional Bosques Secos Interandinos de Cutervo (nature area, mile 84, 4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.